Visto che Pongo mi ha posto un quesito, al quale ho risposto, ma vedendo che altri giustamente chiedono sul fatto della possibilità di visitare parchi o altro nei quali i responsabili fanno entrare in contatto visitatori con lupi ritenuti (fino a quel momento) affidabili, vi posto questo, riassumendo "in situazioni pericolose tutto può capitare, a prescindere da ciò che vi dicono gli altri". Riassumendo, si parla della latente pericolosità degli incroci di prima generazione cane/lupo e nello specifico dei lupi "mansueti" fatti socializzare con le persone. Uno di questi (come nel parco citato nel post prima) era un pacioccone, di colpo però è cambiato. Mai fidarsi.
A proposito della pericolistà dei lupi in cattività e degli incroci F1 cane/lupo
In the state of Michigan wolf hybrids are less common than in other states, but they do exist. One such hybrid was kept on a chain in the back yard, but well away from the house. This animal was reportedly good with children and the owners had no reservations about allowing children to play with or around him. On the 15 of March, 1990, a friend of the animal's owner came over to visit and brought her 2-year-old child. The child had previously "played" with the hybrid and there had been no problems. While the mother was visiting, she put her child into the back yard. Shortly afterward they noticed the animal shaking something -- that something was the child. Most of the throat was torn out; the child was nearly decapitated. So what happened? How could such a tragedy take place? Wolves, dogs and hybrids all have the potential for killing. It is part of what they, as predators, do for a living. Have you even wondered why children are told
never to run around dogs, especially if they are strange dogs? Running is one of the things that elicits or "triggers" predatory behavior. Also, there is a specific threshold for the elicitation of the behavior that varies from animal to animal.
So, can a "pet wolf" be good with children? Well, that depends on what one means by "good". There are many wolf hybrids, and some pure wolves for that matter, that have shown great tolerance and even pleasure in interacting with kids. However, at least in the sense that a dog that is good with children, can be fully
trusted with them, a hybrid often cannot, a wolf never so. The reason you
cannotever trust a pure wolf with children is because of the aforementioned lower threshold for the trigger mechanism regarding predation and the lack of any alteration of their predatory behavior once the trigger is released. Importantly, I must emphasize that these behaviors are genetically encoded -- they cannot be eliminated by "proper socialization" or "training"; at best they can only be suppressed.
As an example of the power of this behavior, at Wolf Park we have a wolf, Imbo, who until he was six years old, was exceptionally good with children. He essentially viewed kids as super puppies -- they would scratch his ears, rub his back, and wouldn't even food beg! Then one day, late in the summer of 1987, Imbo saw a young child throw a tantrum. Imbo watched with interest as this child, about 20 feet away, was on the ground kicking and screaming. Then, only a week later, a child with Tourettes syndrome visited and Imbo watched as she flailed her arms about and made interesting noises. Again this was from a distance. Since we only allow wolves to greet children while we walk them on leashes, Imbo had no opportunity to "test" either situation further. Soon after this, we could see a change in Imbo. A friend brought her infant out and laid the child on a blanket within sight of the wolves. A few weeks before, Imbo would have approached the fence, head lowered, ears back -- in a submissive manner as wolves typically do when they are approaching puppies. However, this time it was different. Imbo rushed up, ears pricked, and then ran excitedly back and forth along the fence,
as though he were expecting food! It was very clear that Imbo's perception of children had changed, dramatically so -- and this change occurred just through observation. He was simply exposed to the proper releasing stimulus and what he had treated as wolf pups, he now viewed as prey. Of course his days as a PR wolf were over. The important thing to realize is that your pet, or your friend's pet, may change. It may do so very quickly and it may do so with very, very tragic results. What all of this means is, a wolf who is very friendly and sociable with people still has the potential of attacking if the proper trigger is released.
I know are, to some extent at least, cautious about allowing their hybrids access to children. Those with pure wolves are even more cautious. Many with pures do not allow any contact with children at all; those that do hold the wolf on a leash. Of course, there are many hybrids that are good with children, even some pure wolves (as was Imbo). However, of the animals that I've seen or have heard of that are (or were) good with children, most are low in wolf content or are very young. The few exceptional animals are just that, exceptional.
If the animals take keen interest in the child, orienting to it with an intense stare, or even if they just have their ears pricked, their tails up, their hackles up, or they run along the fence excitedly, those animals are potentially dangerous around small children. If on the other hand the animals make a slow submissive approach, ears laid back, tail partially tucked and show all the friendly behaviors that they show when they are shown pups, the animals are probably safe at least under supervision. However, I must emphasize, this does not mean that they will also be safe around children who run, fall, scream or in any way trigger that predatory response, or that they will even be safe around children all their lives. (Again, remember Imbo was six years old before he changed and he is but one of many "PR" wolves that I know
of that has "changed" and can no longer freely greet the public.)
Note: The author is the Staff Photographer, Wolf Behavior Specialist, consultant, and Wolf Park's web site webmaster, at Wolf Park, Battle Ground, IN 47920 www.wolfpark.org